soap plant

soap plant
noun
: a plant having a part that may be used in place of soap: as
a. : a California plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) of the family Liliaceae
b. : soapwort 1
c. : any of several plants of the genera Agave, Yucca, and Zigadenus found in southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico
d. : a soapberry (Shepherdia canadensis) having leaves that are silvery on the lower surface

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1. a Californian plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, of the lily family, the bulb of which was used by the Indians as a soap.
2. any of various other plants having parts that can be used as a soap.
[1835-45, Amer.]

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soap plant,
any one of various plants, some part or parts of which can be used like soap.

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n. a plant of the lily family with white flowers, found in dry habitats of California. The fiber-covered bulbs were used as soap by American Indians. ● Genus Chlorogalum, family Liliaceae: two species, the wavy-leaved C. pomeridianum and the narrow-leaved C. angustifolium

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Soap plant — Soap Soap, n. [OE. sope, AS. s[=a]pe; akin to D. zeep, G. seife, OHG. seifa, Icel. s[=a]pa, Sw. s?pa, Dan. s?be, and perhaps to AS. s[=i]pan to drip, MHG. s[=i]fen, and L. sebum tallow. Cf. {Saponaceous}.] A substance which dissolves in water,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • soap plant — soap′ plant n. 1) pln a California plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, of the lily family, the bulb of which was used by the Indians as a soap 2) pln any of various other plants having parts that can be used as a soap …   From formal English to slang

  • soap plant — ☆ soap plant n. any of various plants some parts of which can be used as soap; esp., a tall W North American plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) of the lily family …   English World dictionary

  • soap plant — 1. a Californian plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, of the lily family, the bulb of which was used by the Indians as a soap. 2. any of various other plants having parts that can be used as a soap. [1835 45, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • soap plant — noun Date: 1844 a plant having a part (as a root or fruit) that may be used in place of soap; especially a California plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) of the lily family …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • soap plant —    Ānapanapa, kukuku …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • Soap — Soap, n. [OE. sope, AS. s[=a]pe; akin to D. zeep, G. seife, OHG. seifa, Icel. s[=a]pa, Sw. s?pa, Dan. s?be, and perhaps to AS. s[=i]pan to drip, MHG. s[=i]fen, and L. sebum tallow. Cf. {Saponaceous}.] A substance which dissolves in water, thus… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • soap apple — Soap Soap, n. [OE. sope, AS. s[=a]pe; akin to D. zeep, G. seife, OHG. seifa, Icel. s[=a]pa, Sw. s?pa, Dan. s?be, and perhaps to AS. s[=i]pan to drip, MHG. s[=i]fen, and L. sebum tallow. Cf. {Saponaceous}.] A substance which dissolves in water,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Soap bark — Soap Soap, n. [OE. sope, AS. s[=a]pe; akin to D. zeep, G. seife, OHG. seifa, Icel. s[=a]pa, Sw. s?pa, Dan. s?be, and perhaps to AS. s[=i]pan to drip, MHG. s[=i]fen, and L. sebum tallow. Cf. {Saponaceous}.] A substance which dissolves in water,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Soap bubble — Soap Soap, n. [OE. sope, AS. s[=a]pe; akin to D. zeep, G. seife, OHG. seifa, Icel. s[=a]pa, Sw. s?pa, Dan. s?be, and perhaps to AS. s[=i]pan to drip, MHG. s[=i]fen, and L. sebum tallow. Cf. {Saponaceous}.] A substance which dissolves in water,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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